Ve 4c 12 07 17

Stage 3 Cancer won’t Slow Darren Parker Down

First African American Billionaire Honored Page A2

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DJ Reed Could Face Bruins Page A5

News Observer

FFRREEEE!!

The Valley’s

Volume 33 Number 6

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Planet Fitness Set to Open Second

“Judgement Free” Gym in Inglewood

New location will offer non-intimidating Judgement Free Zone®, extremely low prices, free unlimited fitness training included in all monthly memberships, and more.

Inglewood, CA – Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S, is set to open its newest gym in the Crenshaw Imperial Plaza at 2700 W. Imperial Highway in Inglewood.

Slated to open January 11, the new 20,000 square foot gym – which will offer state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat screen televisions, HydroMassage lounges, massage chairs, tanning beds, Total Body Enhancement booths, and more – will be the second Planet Fitness to open in Inglewood since 2012 and the 47th to open in the Los Angeles area. The facility will also be open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

New members can now join for just $1 down and then $10 a month through December 29th. Starting December 4th, a presale trailer will be available so members can sign up online or in person.

“We’re thrilled to bring another Judgement Free® fitness experience to Inglewood,” said franchisee Joe Bernatowicz, who also co-owns 10 other Planet Fitness gyms in the region. “Whether you’ve never belonged to a gym before or you’re an existing gym member looking to try a new facility, we encourage you to come check out the new club, meet our friendly staff, get a tour and see what the Judgement Free Zone is all about. We’re confident that our encouraging and hassle-free environment will be a welcome addition to the community.”

Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and being home of the Judgement Free Zone®, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment. Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including unlimited small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the pe@pf ® program. In addition, as a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness provides free pizza on the first Monday of every month, and free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month while supplies last, as a reminder that it’s okay to treat yourself.

The PF Black Card® membership, which is $21.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,400+ Planet Fitness locations, as well as access to massage beds and chairs and tanning, among other benefits*.

Planet Fitness also provides members with an opportunity to connect and support each other with “Planet of Triumphs,” an online community that celebrates all accomplishments and inspirational stories of Planet Fitness members. The Planet of Triumphs online platform allows members to recognize their triumphs (big or small), share their stories and encourage others, reinforcing the Company’s belief that “everyone belongs.” Check out real Planet Fitness member stories and accomplishments at www.PlanetofTriumphs.com.

Additionally, Planet Fitness has extended its judgement free

philosophy outside of its gyms and into communities that need it most with its national philanthropic initiative, “The Judgement Free Generation™.” Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the nation’s leading youth development organization, supporting millions of kids and teens during the critical out-ofschool time, Planet Fitness aims to empower a generation of teens to grow up contributing to a more judgement free planet – a place where everyone feels accepted and like they belong.

Planet Fitness will be celebrating the new opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony in January.

For more information or to join online, please visit www.

PlanetFitness.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook. com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter(www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness). *PF Black Card® amenities may vary by location About Planet Fitness Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations.

As of September 30, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.5 million members and 1,432 stores in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Dominican Republic.

The Company’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

Meet Rams Head Coach

Thursday, December 7, 2017

San Diego Opens Giant Tent to Contain Hepatitis Outbreak

By JULIE WATSON Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) _ San Diego on Friday opened the first of three industrial-sized tents to house the homeless as part of the city's efforts to contain a hepatitis A outbreak stemming from the deplorable conditions people were living in on the streets.

About 20 people made their way to a bunk bed Friday in the tent that will house 350 single men and women. Two other giant tents will open later this month _ one for families and one for veterans. The tents will house a total of 700 people.

The city turned to tents to get people off the streets and contain a hepatitis A outbreak that has killed 20 people in the past year, marking the worst epidemic of its kind in the US in 20 years. The virus lives in feces.

“There's going to be a marked different in what we see on the streets today and what we see at this time next year,” said Bob McElroy of the Alpha Project, the nonprofit group that will operate the tent that opened Friday.

More than 3,000 people have been living on the streets in the city. The city opened a temporary campground in October where 200 people lived in tents. They will now be moved into the new giant tents.

Verna Vasbinder, 47, was among the first to move from the campground. She rolled in with her little black dog, Lucy Lui, on the seat of her walker with a cardboard sign hanging off the back that read: “Don't Touch the Dog! The Human Bites!”

She plopped down on her bunk bed and already felt lucky to be finally under a roof.

“My bones were hurting very badly sleeping on the ground,” said Vasbinder, who has been homeless for six years.

“And the dew, moisture in the morning. Whew! I'm out of the cold, off the ground and I'll be feeling better in a few days.

All I need is to rest in a bed.”

Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who welcomed her to the tent, said the goal is to move 65 percent of the occupants into permanent housing. The city had to divert $6.5 million budgeted for permanent housing to fund the operation of the tents for seven months.

The tents will provide an array of services from mental health care to housing navigators.

But the city still faces an acute housing shortage for the poor. Faulconer has earmarked more than $80 million in funds to address the problem.

Gemma Librado lives a block away from the tent that opened Friday. She said she is glad to see the streets being cleaned up but she worries it may attract more homeless. Last Sunday, a homeless man high on drugs and with a bleeding hand ran into her apartment when she opened the door and locked himself in the bathroom. She and her 6-year-old son ran out and called police. The man broke things in her bathroom, left bloodstains on the floor and scared her.

“If this makes things more orderly than I support this,” she said. “But I'm worried. I don't want this to bring in more homeless to the area and people using drugs. There are families with children around here.”

High School Senior Pleads Not Guilty in LA Gang Killing

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ An 18-year-old suburban high school senior who was freed from jail on $5 million bail and returned to classes has pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in a gang-related killing in South Los Angeles.

The Daily Breeze reports Cameron Terrell entered his plea Wednesday to one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. The charges include gang allegations.

The newspaper says the white suburban teen allegedly joined a predominantly black LA street gang. Terrell is identified in the complaint with the moniker ``White Boy.’’ Police say he drove the car involved in the October shooting death of Justin Holmes. Two juveniles were also arrested and charged with murder.

Terrell’s family eventually pulled him from classes at Palos Verdes High after parents called him a danger to students.

Woman Spots Missing Puppy in Newscast of High Speed Chase

Sean McVay Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay (left) directing Quarterback Jared Goff (right). (Getty Images photo)

By Cam Buford whatsgoodinsports.com In 2016 the Rams were seen as dysfunctional by some and underachievers by others. If you recall, there were Rams Hall of Famer players feuding with the coaching staff and the previous Head Coach, specifically. Though they had a lot of talent on the roster it was widely felt that this team had not been living up to expectations. Enter the leagues youngest Head Coach ever, Sean McVay. After contacting former players of the, former Offensive Coordinator for the Washington Redskins, many of them were nothing but complimentary of the coaching abilities of Sean McVay. “Hire him tomorrow,’ ‘no-brainer,’ ‘best motivator,’ ‘best coach to put us in position to succeed as a unit!’ These were some of the texts received by Rams General Manager Les Snead during the recruitment of their new Head Coach Sean McVay.

A lot credit should be given to Les Snead and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff for them not shying away from the youth of Coach McVay. Snead was overheard saying that “Thirty doesn’t matter, it might actually be a positive here.” Which actually makes sense because, many of the Rams players are in their 20’s.

Sean’s father Tim McVay, played defensive back at Indiana University. Though, more notably his grandfather, John McVay was the General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers team that won five Super Bowls in the 1980’s. This experience of being around the iconic team of the 1980’s surely rubbed off on the young McVay and enhanced his knowledge of the game.

This Dayton, Ohio native began his professional coaching career on John Grudens staff, as the Wide Receiver coach in 2008.

In 2010, McVay was hired as the Assistant Tight Ends coach by the Washington Redskins. He was then promoted to Tight Ends coach in 2011, before becoming the team’s Offensive Coordinator in 2014. His ability to get the most out of players and put them in the position to be successful has served he and his players well. See Kirk Cousins, who is currently on his second franchise tag contract largely due to his performance under McVay. Sean McVay’s confidence, in his own ability, led him to hire an experienced staff, including Defensive Coordinator Wade Philips. It’s decisive decisions like these that have these Rams playing winning football this season. Not to mention the detail and focus he brings to every aspect to leading the Division leading Rams!

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ A California woman had given up hope she would find her 9-month-old puppy until she spotted the animal in a newscast of a high-speed chase.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Salina Hurtado of Oceanside says her puppy, Catalina, went missing soon after Thanksgiving.

Hurtado says she then watched a local television news anchor detail a pursuit in Valley Center, where a dog was shot when deputies fired at a man accused of trying to run them over in a stolen van.

The dog was a white pit bull with a distinctive brown spot similar to Catalina.

Hurtado called the TV station and found out the puppy had been taken to the County of San Diego Animal Services shelter in Carlsbad.

The dog is being treated for a gunshot wound.

World & Nation Seattle Police Chief to Step Down after Reforms A2

SEATTLE (AP) _ Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who helped reform the department after federal officials found officers were too quick to use force against minorities, will step down at the end of the year, the mayor said Monday.

O’Toole took over as chief in 2014 as the city was struggling to carry out an agreement with the Department of Justice designed to curb how often officers use force.

The agreement followed questionable actions against minorities, including an officer’s fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver in 2010.

The reforms were strongly resisted by the department’s brass at the time.

However, a monitoring team found the changes eventually led to a drop in how often officers use serious force, with no rise in crime or officer injuries.

During a 28-month span from 2014 to 2016, incidents in which Seattle officers used force that caused or could be expected to cause injury fell at least 60 percent from a similar period in 2009 to 2011.

New Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Deputy Chief Carmen Best will serve as interim chief beginning Jan. 1.

Former Mayor Ed Murray hired O’Toole, a former Boston police commissioner. She was the first woman to run Seattle’s department.

The court-appointed monitoring team overseeing new training and policies as part of the reforms has repeatedly praised O’Toole’s leadership on the issue. In a report filed in court last April, the team said she had been working tirelessly to ensure the

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

reforms take root.

“Her constant promotion of the new use of force policies as good for the men and women of the police department and the Seattle community has done much to cultivate buy-in and ongoing application by the rank and file,’’ the report said.

O’Toole, 63, joined the Boston police as a patrol officer in 1979 and worked her way through the ranks. She served as Boston’s police commissioner from 2004 to 2006 before completing a six-year term as chief of an oversight body responsible for reforms in the Irish national police force.

Questions over her future in Seattle arose during the mayoral campaign this year after it was announced that she had been named to lead a new agency called the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, an unpaid position.

She was also part of a team seeking a multimillion-dollar contract to oversee police reforms in Baltimore. That prompted mayoral candidate Mike McGinn to publicly doubt her commitment to Seattle; O’Toole called that political theater.

“Oh God, that’s ridiculous,’’ she told The Seattle Times. “I have worked 24/7 for the past three years. I sleep with my phone next to my pillow every night.’’

Seattle Police Officers Guild President Rich O’Neill thanked O’Toole.

“Chief O’Toole guided the department through the very difficult task of completing all of the assessments required under the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement,’’ O’Neill wrote.

“This was done in record time and that is a testament to her persistence and her ability to put people in the right positions.’’

Thursday December 7, 2017

FILE - In this May 1, 2017 file photo, Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, left, talks with an officer before a march for worker and immigrant rights at a May Day event in Seattle. O’Toole, who has helped guide the department’s changes under a consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department, is stepping down at the end of the year. New Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan made the announcement in a news release Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Atlanta Mayoral Runoff a Test of Race, Gender and Grudges

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, file photo, Atlanta city councilwoman and mayoral candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms talks to the press after voting at a polling site in Atlanta. Bottoms is in a runoff with Mary Norwood. (David Goldman, File/Associated Press)

By ERRIN HAINES WHACK AP Race & Ethnicity Writer The process of choosing Atlanta’s next mayor has come down to two candidates, one black, one white, after a campaign that laid plain the city’s sore spots of race, gender and political grudges.

Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mary Norwood square off Tuesday in a runoff that may give Atlanta its first white woman mayor ever if Norwood is elected. She would also be its first white mayor in 44 years. Aside from that, the ballot comes just after elections that gave New Orleans and Charlotte their first black women mayors ever, and amid infighting that severely tested Atlanta’s long-dominant black political machine.

Bottoms, 47, was endorsed by former mayor Andrew Young and current, term-limited Mayor Kasim Reed, who beat Norwood in a 2009 runoff by only 714 votes _ a large share of them from the black, middle-class southwest quadrant where Bottoms lives.

Norwood, 65, is backed by the city’s last white mayor, Sam Massell, and two prominent black officials: the city’s first female mayor, Shirley Franklin, and former City Council President Ceasar Mitchell _ endorsements that many perceived as a public rebuke of Reed, who hotly denigrated Mitchell and Norwood as ``losers.’’

Democrats have held the mayor’s office in Atlanta since 1879. As always, the race will come down to turnout, which has been historically low.

What black voters do on Tuesday is key. Some blacks, turned off by a city contracting corruption probe under Reed’s watch, are struggling with getting past race to back Norwood. Others look

askance at Norwood’s status as an independent, branding her a stealth Republican who seeks to serve City Hall up to Georgia’s otherwise deep-red political apparatus.

It is the type of dilemma that black voters don’t take lightly, said Andre Perry, a Brookings Institution research fellow. ``Being black in America brings a level of awareness around inequity that many other groups are just blind to,’’ Perry said. ``If you’re not of the community, it’s easier to dismiss it. That’s the fear of having white leaders, the idea that they’re disconnected.’’

In the past, Atlanta black leaders had a succession plan, according to Kelley Bass Jackson, whose former father-in-law, the late Maynard Jackson, was elected Atlanta’s first black mayor in 1973. This time, she said, there was no clear, hand-picked heir, touching off hard sparring between black candidates that caused ``so much anxiety and division among the citizens.’’ ``Atlanta’s identity has been defined by having a black mayor _ and not just any black mayor, but having excellent black mayors who were well-educated, civic-minded and who cared about lifting the race and building collaborations,’’ Jackson said.

Partisan infighting could also be a factor. Some speculate the race could become a referendum on the popular but prickly Reed, whose public feuds with Mitchell and other black candidates threatened to overshadow Bottoms’ efforts to woo voters. ``People are trying to penalize (Bottoms) because they believe that she is a puppet of the mayor or that she will do everything he tells her to do,’’ said Kwanza Hall, a former city councilman who ran in the general mayoral election and now backs Bottoms.

Bottoms, a former city councilwoman, was the top vote getter in November and the only black woman on the ballot. She

is backed by several state Democrats, including Jason Carter, grandson of former president Jimmy Carter. This weekend, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California, a rising Democratic star, is expected to stump for Bottoms in Atlanta.

Harris continuously pumped her fist in admiration of Bottoms in front of around 300 supporters who had just watched a live debate between Bottoms and Norwood during a rally Sunday evening. The senator told attendees she flew into town to tell them the importance of voting for Bottoms on Tuesday.

Harris said the election is important not just for Atlanta, but for the entire country.

“This is moment when so-called leaders are selling division and hate,’’ Harris said. “So we must fight to be the best at who we are. We must fight that we should be treated as equals. ... And we must fight to ensure that Keisha Lance Bottoms is the next mayor of Atlanta.’’

Mayor Reed also spoke during the rally.

Norwood lives in Atlanta’s wealthy, heavily white Buckhead enclave but established a reputation as responsive to residents across the city in her role as an at-large councilwoman.

Atlanta, Newark and Washington, D.C. are the only U.S. cities with four decades of unbroken black leadership. Atlanta’s streak could end because of changing demographics _ the next mayor inherits a city that is younger and more diverse, with some voters putting less emphasis on the importance of black leadership.

“Atlanta is not a city in distress,’’ said Emory University political scientist Andra Gillespie. “And (black voters) will still be the largest group. Whomever they prefer as candidate is going to be mayor.’’

Honoring the First African American Billionaire

Washington, D.C.—On November 30, 1987, Reginald Francis Lewis negotiated the $985 million leveraged buyout of Beatrice International Foods, which at that time, was the largest offshore transaction in the United States. The Wall Street move was celebrated around the world as the deal that made Lewis the first-ever African American billionaire business tycoon. Michael Milken was his investment banker, and the company made the Fortune 500.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the historic deal, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Baltimore, Maryland will be placing the financial transaction milestone in the United States Congressional Record in honor of Lewis’s work that changed the face of American business forever, opening the doors for more African Americans, women and minorities, to play in the billion-dollar-business league.

The event also marked the founding of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc., the first African American-owned enterprise to break through the billion-dollar mark when it grossed $1.8 billion in sales on its first year.

Very recently, President Barack Obama said to Lewis’s daughter Leslie Lewis, “Your father had the work ethic, the skills and the knowhow. But beyond that, he had the temperament, the self-assurance, the confidence that he could do it and that he belonged there. Being the First of anything requires a certain mindset. Reginald Lewis had it.”

When Lewis died from brain cancer in 1993, he left behind a legacy that continues to inspire young African Americans, and all Americans of color. In his hometown, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture will be celebrating his 75th birth anniversary with an event called “Reginald F. Lewis, The Conversation: The $Billion Deal, The Lifestyle, The Man,” Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, 10:00 a.m. in Baltimore, Maryland.

Special guests include: Keith Perrin, the co-founder of FUBU and executive of The Shark Group with Daymond John; Jean S. Fugett Jr. (Lewis’s brother, former TLC Beatrice International CEO; Clarence “Tiger” Davis (Lewis’s high school classmate); author Lin Hart (classmate at Virginia State University); and William C. Slattery (classmate at Harvard Law School). Lewis’s widow, Filipino American lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis, and his mother, Carolyn Fugett, will be present to help you really know the man.

Reginald Lewis was known for being the first (and still the only) person accepted to Harvard Law School without applying to the prestigious 148-year-old institution. As a testament to Lewis’s brilliance and generosity, The Reginald F. Lewis International Law Center stands at Harvard Law School today, as the first building on their campus named after an African American.

In 1987, Lewis founded his eponymous Foundation to carry out his vision and mission for philanthropy (supporting educational programs for minorities and underprivileged youth, as well as showcasing and preserving African American art and culture); this was continued by his family, even after his death. They also completed the autobiography that Lewis had begun (with co-author Blair S. Walker), which became the bestseller, “Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun? How Reginald Lewis Created a Billion-Dollar Business Empire.”

Now more than ever, his name is recognized by the younger generation as an inspiration and model for entrepreneurship.

Today, there is the Reginald F. Lewis High School of Business & Law in Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis High School of Business and Law in Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business at Virginia State University, and The Lewis College in Sorsogon City, Philippines, his widow’s hometown. In Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture stands as a tribute to the man’s legendary achievements.

Lewis’s daughters are keeping his legacy alive by making invaluable contributions not only to the African American community, but also to American society as a whole. Leslie Lewis is a consummate performer and executive producer, most recently recognized for her moving one-woman show called “Miracle in Rwanda,” based on a true story of surviving violence, overcoming odds and the power of forgiveness.

Christina Lewis Halpern founded All Star Code, a not-forprofit organization that seeks to help young men of color with the tools they need to become a new generation of entrepreneurs, who will confidently navigate the multi-billion-dollar technology industry, and create more economic opportunity.

Highlights of Lewis’s exceptional life are also permanently displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and a documentary about his life is slated for release on WNET in February 2018.

News Observer The Valley’s

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Bulk Mailing Permit 724 Bakersfield, CA 93385 Published By Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc. Corporate Office 1219 20th St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 324-9466 Member: West Coast Black Publishers Assc., National Newspaper Publishers Assc., Associated Press President: Ellen Coley Operations Manager: Jon Coley Editor: James Luckey

Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) will honor Reginald F. Lewis (pictured) by adding his historic, November 30, 1987 deal to the United States Congressional Record.

(Reginald F. Lewis Museum)

AIDS in Africa Matters to Black Americans

By Dr. Djibril Diallo Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, UNAIDS World AIDS Day (December 1) is fast approaching and a recently launched initiative aimed at ending HIV/AIDS, as a public health crisis in Africa, could be a catalyst to trigger discussions about HIV in the African American and African diaspora communities in the United States.

In recent months, several African heads of state have made public their commitment to support the goal of ending AIDS by 2030. In September, six African heads of state joined UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé at the “HIV Fast Track” side event organized during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly that was held in New York City and presided over by President Yoweri of Uganda. Earlier in July, during the African Union (AU) Summit, AU Chair, President Alpha Conde of Guinea convened the “AIDS Watch Africa Heads of State and Government Meeting” where the leaders endorsed the “Catch-Up Plan for West and Central Africa” and declared their commitment to providing the needed policy and resource changes to help achieve the target goals.

The Catch-Up Plan is an 18-month initiative that has been developed to accelerate the AIDS response and prevent a resurgence of the HIV epidemic in the 25-country region. Its focus is on testing, knowing one’s HIV status, treatment, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission; the initiative was crafted to complement existing health plans that the countries have been using to address HIV and AIDS. Today, thanks to advancements in medicine and increased access to antiretroviral medications for many people in Africa and around the world, being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence. In so many cases, with treatment the disease can be managed like a chronic illness and kept under long-term control with medication.

However, at a time when the global response to HIV is accelerating, millions of people in Western and Central Africa are being left behind. There is a considerable gap when it comes to people knowing their HIV status, and for those who test positive

to receive the necessary treatment.

The same can be said for the populations most vulnerable to the disease in the United States, as well.

Many of the issues that continue to fuel the HIV/AIDS crisis on the continent are also the root cause for the high infection rates found in African American and Hispanic populations in the U.S. including some of the same barriers keep people from seeking to know their HIV status, having access to treatment and properly following up on treatment namely poverty, fear, stigma and discrimination.

On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the HIV/AIDS mirror reflects the same faces: the young, the poor, women, high-risk populations, as well as children. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Ga., reported that “African Americans continue to experience the greatest burden of HIV compared to other races and ethnicities.”

In 2015, data released earlier this year, the CDC noted that African Americans who represent around 12 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 40 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS and nearly 45 percent “of all persons with newly diagnosed infection.” Latinos, who represent around 17 percent of the U.S. population, account for nearly 21 percent of people living with HIV and an estimated 24 percent of all persons with newly diagnosed infection.

The Catch-Up Plan for West and Central Africa initiative can serve as the entry point for talking about HIV/AIDs and related health issues in Africa globally and in particular, as it concerns African American and African Diaspora communities in the US. Djibril Diallo, the UNAIDS Director of the Regional Support Team for West and Central Africa, says that Black Americans need to get more involved in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. (UNAIDS)

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Thursday December 7, 2017

Features

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

A3

Stage 3 Cancer

Won’t Slow Darren Parker Down

Longtime political activist Darren Parker announces that he’s battling stage 3 esophageal cancer

Longtime political activist Darren Parker announces that he’s battling stage 3 esophageal cancer (courtesy photo)

By Jasmyne A. Cannick| California Black Media After calling to order a standing room only crowd of Democrats at the Winter meeting of the California Democratic Party’s African American Caucus near San Francisco on the evening of Nov. 18, longtime chair Darren Parker made a startling admission that he was battling stage 3 esophageal cancer.

Remarking that many in the room might have noticed his dramatic weight loss since their last meeting, Parker explained that two months ago he began to drop weight and was having issues with that he thought was just acid reflux and indigestion.

“What started as a simple doctor’s appointment to pinpoint the problem and find a solution has evolved into a diagnosis of stage 3 esophageal cancer,” he said.

Parker says that immediately after his diagnosis he began to withdraw and had begun to mope around until a colleague said to him, “Don’t cancer know they can’t kick your ass? Don’t cancer know that Parker can kick cancer’s ass?”

Parker credits those very words with putting the fight back into him.

“It brought me back to I’m from Compton,” he said. “I got in my car and I turned my music back up and I was back to myself because the news had really started to take me out of who I was. And because my friend said that, I was able to put back on my music and it helped to me to change my perspective back into who I was. Being here in San Francisco for the meeting of the African American Caucus was very important to me because it is part of the healing process more than the medication, more than anything else--because I am finishing a journey that the Lord put me on originally. I think that the reason why I’ve been a Party officer for this long is that the Lord gave me a task and my task was to guide and build this Caucus into what it is today.”

Parker has been elected to chair the African American Caucus of the California Democratic Party for the past 10 years--5 consecutive terms. He served as an active member in the Communication Workers of America Union--including as their Political Director--during his 30-year career at AT&T. He has worked for three Assembly Speakers during his tenure including John Perez, Toni Atkins and the current Speaker Anthony Rendon.

“When I became chair there were literally ten of us in the room and five of us were officers,” Parker remembers. “It was Reggie Jones who said to me that it was my time to step up. Little did I know that when I stepped up that there wasn’t going to be any members and there wasn’t going to be any money. But he had been grooming us to make sure that at anytime we were ready to step up to the opportunity to serve not just the Party but to serve our people in the Party. So when I stepped up and saw that there were 10 people and $29.75 in the account, it inspired me to build as we’ve done my whole life.”

A longtime Antelope Valley resident by way of Compton, Parker says that he got his start in politics at the age of eleven with his brother and three cousins by starting a club in his grandmother’s house in Compton called One Hundred Thousand Students for the Freedom of South Africa.

“Very early in life we were creating organizations in the backyard and had meetings about how do we help the students over there that we can’t see and can’t touch but yet want to be a part of stopping the struggle that they’re in.”

Parker says that his early organizing to help Black South African students was akin to the struggle he faced coming on as chair of the African American Caucus.

“I literally used the things that I had learned back then and in my adult life and which led to inspiration to build the Caucus one member at a time.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters was a huge source of inspiration to Parker in his early days.

Remembering a Democratic convention where Waters took the extraordinary step of called a meeting of the African American Caucus during the middle of the convention on the floor during session after no Blacks were on agenda.

“She did it for two reasons. One, that she had something to say and this wasn’t right and that we all knew it. And the second reason was to get the attention of the leadership of the state party.”

Parker says that Congresswoman Waters’ bold leadership during that convention showed him that when you have the power of delegates, you have the power of change in the Democratic Party. “So not only did I go out to recruit African Americans but I went out to recruit delegates because I figured if I had one-third or two-thirds of the delegates of the state party--and there’s 3,000 people--if I could get 1,500 or 2,000 people we would ultimately have power no matter who is in charge or what was going on because we could always pull our delegates in and make action happen.”

Today the African American Caucus has over 1,300 delegate members under Parker’s leadership and is one of the largest member groups of the California Democratic Party. While he laments that not all of the members of the Caucus are Black he does point out that the state party has not done a good job of reaching out to Blacks at the Assembly Democratic process level to get involved. As word spread throughout California’s Black Democratic community many offered words of praise for Parker and his leadership.

Los Angeles County Democratic Party Vice-Chair Bobbie Jean Anderson said, “This news is overwhelming for me. I have known Darren and his mother for many years. In fact, he refers to me and Congresswoman Waters as his play moms because of our relationship with his mother and the impact we had on his life. He confided in me about politics and life in general. We have and still work together in Democratic politics. I am a strong supporter of him and he of me. We have served together on the California Democratic Party’s African American Caucus under his outstanding leadership as chair and with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, for more than twenty years. My prayer is for God’s intervention and healing power. I love and respect Darren to the utmost.”

“When I was in a black hole suffering from PTSD and ADHD and had just finished spending 13 months being incar-

cerated for a mistake I made--Darren Parker was the only person to physically take my hand and walk me up the steps of the State Capitol,” shared Basil Kimbrew “He said, ‘let’s do this’ when no else would touch me or work with me back in the day.”

Kimbrew continued, “Because of that one day with Darren Parker, I am now where I am today--known as America’s Top Chef, feeding homeless veterans because I used to be homeless. Darren Parker made calls for me, got me back in the political game to where I am the largest political e-blast blogger going out to 43 million people every day. That’s what Darren Parker did for me. He helped me get my respect and dignity back.”

“Darren Parker is a friend, mentor, and a central reason as to my involvement in the California Democratic Party’s African American Caucus,” added Devin Murphy, Chair of the California Young Democrats’ Black Caucus. “He has been there for many of us, and it is time we support him. Darren is a fighter, and I expect that God will bring him to full recovery. We’re with you, Darren.”

Parker maintains that the Caucus will continue on with it’s

goals of getting more Blacks involved--including educating and encouraging Black Democrats in traditional and non-traditional Black areas on how to become a delegate.

“My biggest challenge now is making sure that the leaders who come behind me continue challenge the Party’s leadership and push back,” Parker reflects. “No one in a race can get elected without the vote of the African American community. No one can win a race without us. It’s time for us to exercise that. The siege that this country is under with 45, if we are not consistent in standing up we will be at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to fixing things in our community based on what this one president can do with the power of the pen.”

The father of 5 and daughters and grandfather is facing a long road ahead of him, including chemotherapy, radiation and invasive surgery to move a portion of the tumor. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help assist him with the costs of his cancer treatments at gofundme.com/DemsforDarren.

Darren Parker and his family (courtesy photo)

My Cause, My Cleats Campaign Los Angeles Chargers Jeremiah Attaochu- Sickle Cell Disease

Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay (left) directing Quarterback Jared Goff (right). (Getty Images photo)

By Cam Buford whatsgoodinsports.com In Week 13 the NFL have invited players to share the causes which are important to them by wearing cleats that have been designed to highlight their specific cause of choice! The Make-AWish Foundation, The Susan G. Komen, and American Cancer Society are among the multiple charities that will be highlighted through the players participation in the My Clause, My Cleat campaign by the Chargers and Rams alike. This campaign is a culmination of united efforts between the Players, locally and around the league in the NFL, where nearly 1000 players will be

wearing these cleats this week.

This is nearly double the amount from the previous season.

The Rams alone have over 25 players participating in this campaign and many of them have vastly different causes they choose to highlight. Tavon Austin, Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald are among the many players participating in this campaign.

The Chargers have nearly 20 players also sporting these designers cleats this week. Though there are many foundations they are choosing to highlight, Breast Cancer, Human trafficking, and Autism Awareness is among the various causes they are wanting

Joe Barksdale-

Music Education

Antonio Gates-

Lupus Research

Joey Bosa-

Pediatric Cancer

Melvin Gordon-

Adoption Support

Travis Benjamin-

Breast Cancer

Casey Hayward-

Charity for a greater Purpose

Hunter Henry-

Human Trafficking

Cardale Jones-

Military Appreciation

Drew Kaser-

All Cancers

Desmond King-

Autism Awareness

Corey Liuget-

Heart Health

Sean McGrath-

Empower Survivors of Abuse

Russell Okung-

Tech Access Low Income

Branden Oliver-

Anti- Bullying- No Bully Zone

Adrian Phillips-

Diabetes

Hayes Pullard-

Youth Athletics

Michael Schofield-

Colon Cancer Awareness

Todd Gurley’s Shriners Hospital inspired cleats (whatsgoodinsports. com Photo)

to bring awareness too. List below are those who you may have wearing their designer cleats this past weekend and their specific causes which have inspired them: Last week we posted the multiple Rams that were allowing their cleats to speak on the various causes and foundation that are close to the players hearts. Below we have displayed picture of some of the cleats that the players wore this past week in their week 13 games; Whether it’s the players on the Los Angeles Rams, Chargers,

or any other team in the league; it is a good thing that the league agreed to let the players where these colorful cleats highlighting the causes which are important to them. Not only has this campaign allowed fans to see what some of the players care about, it allows these players to show their individuality. Maybe next season the players can wear their designer cleats for multiple weeks, instead of just one. Which cleats were your favorite that you saw pictured in this article, or even over the weekend; Please share with me at info@whatsgoodinsports.com.

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Hundreds Rallied for Meek Mill Lynette Monroe, a guest columnist for the NNPA Newswire, says that it’s okay to march for Meek Mill, but thousands of Black men and women, who are jailed for technical parole violations, deserve your support, too.

HOW DID ALL THIS START? JANUARY 2007: Mill is arrested in Philadelphia, charged with assault, drug and gun possession. According to a criminal complaint, he pointed a firearm at a police officer and was forcibly subdued.

AUGUST 2008: Mill is convicted of charges including simple assault, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a loaded weapon.

Mugshot of Meek Mill. (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections)

JANUARY 2009: He is sentenced to 111/2 to 23 months behind bars, seven years of probation. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley says the term was “considerably shorter” than it could have been. She wrote that the court wanted to “give him an opportunity to turn his life around from selling drugs and instead focus on his musical talent.''

RELEASE AND PROBATION JUNE 2009: Mill is released from jail after five months and paroled under house arrest. He is given permission to work but is also ordered to earn a high school equivalency diploma and undergo drug treatment.

2010-2012: On multiple occasions, he tests positive for marijuana and opioid use but is not held to be in violation of the terms of his release.

DECEMBER 2011: He is found to be in techical violation for testing positive for opioid use but is not jailed.

2012: After a court date is rescheduled several times because of Mill's “unavailability and failure to communicate with his attorney,” Brinkley writes in a court document, his travel outside Philadelphia is suspended.

MARCH 2013: He is found in violation of probation for traveling outside the city but is not jailed. Instead, he is ordered to enroll in an etiquette course to address ``inappropriate social media use and crude language in the courtroom,'' court documents state.

JULY 2014: He violates probation again, this time for failing to report to his probation officer, making unauthorized travel plans and ignoring the court's orders. He is returned to jail for about five months and given an additional five years of probation.

DECEMBER 2015: Mill is back in court for his fourth hearing for violations. Authorities say he didn't report to his probation officer, disobeyed travel restrictions and submitted a sample of cold water for a urine test. A lab technician testifies that Mill told him that the sample was cold because he drank a lot of water. His then-girlfriend, Nicki Minaj, testifies on his behalf. Mill's attorney says his work in the entertainment business makes it hard for the rapper to comply with orders restricting his travel. Sentencing was scheduled for February.

FEBRUARY 2016: He is sentenced to 90 days house arrest and is required to do community service.

RECENT IMPRISONMENT

Macy’s to Hire 7,000 Extra Seasonal Workers

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) _ Macy's is hiring an additional 7,000 seasonal associates this holiday season, saying traffic in its department stores nationwide has been high.

The company said Friday that the hires will work on the sales floors of its stores as well as fulfill online and pick-up-in-store orders and do other operational jobs. Most of the jobs are part-time.

They are in addition to the 80,000 temporary holiday workers Macy’s said it expected to hire early in the fall.

The news is encouraging and is in line with overall retail industry reports that have indicated a strong start to the season, with shoppers buying more than last year.

Macy's needs a good holiday season after suffering 11 straight quarters of sales declines for a key measure. Macy's, like many of its department store peers, has been hit hard from shoppers' shift away from clothing and more toward experiences. And when shoppers do buying clothing, they’re going increasingly to so-called off-price chains like T.J. Maxx or online to Amazon.

Timeline: The Saga of Meek Mill and How he Ended Up in Jail

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Meek Mill's imprisonment on a probation violation has set off a flurry of legal appeals, criticism of the criminal justice system, newspaper opinion pieces, rallies, billboards and bus ads. A look at how the 30-year-old Philadelphia rapper, whose “Dreams Worth More Than Money” won a Billboard award for top rap album last year, ended up in a Pennsylvania prison roughly a decade after his 2007 arrest:

By Lynette Monroe NNPA Newswire Guest Columnist Recently, hundreds of fans and supporters held a rally outside a Philadelphia courthouse, chanting for Robert Rihmeek Williams a.k.a. Meek Mill, to be released. The rapper was sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating his parole, stemming from 10 year-old charges, including drug possession and carrying a firearm without a license. Several media outlets have reported that the presiding Judge Genece Brinkley is now under investigation by the FBI. In the United States, there are more than 61, 000 people incarcerated for parole violations. So, to all of a sudden see thousands of people chanting and tweeting #FreeMeekMill is ironic to say the least. Mass incarceration is a part of the rudimentary diet of Black people, appearing on the menu alongside predatory lending and housing discrimination. It is difficult to find a Black person who has been exempted from interaction with the criminal justice system; either through the incarceration of family and friends, an overnight stay for traffic violations, or extended restrictions due to parole or probation agreements. I have a brother, cousin, and boyfriend incarcerated, right now. In Meek Mill’s case, I agree with the sentiment that the two- to four-year sentence is unwarranted, however, our sole concern should not be whether or not the subsequent consequence for the violation of these terms is fair; he agreed to them and has violated those terms several times. The issue is a system that does not carry out justice equally, a system where if Meek Mill were White, statistically he would less likely be arrested or incarcerated in the first place.

Now, I know we protest for unarmed civilians murdered at the hands of police. It’s easy to yell, “F--k the Police!” standing in a crowd of thousands of people, but where was that same outrage when Kalief Browder was held in Rikers Island for three years without a trial. He later committed suicide and Jay-Z produced a documentary about Browder’s tragic life. And what about the millions of Black men and women trapped in a system of injustice that don’t rap or rise to the attention of people like Jay-Z? Their stories go untold in the absence of media coverage, sometimes, because they don’t fit the narrative that establishes purity as a prerequisite for grace.

The support for Meek Mill in the Black community wasn’t unanimous; Blacks seem to have a much harder time forgiving these transgressions than their White counterparts.

In August, when an 8-year old biracial Black boy was hung by a rope in Claremont, New Hampshire by several older, White children, Claremont Police Chief Mark Chase said that the culprits should be protected. HYPERLINK “http://www. theroot.com/new-hampshire-police-refuse-to-release-information-on-c-1803054596” “Mistakes they make as a young child should not have to follow them for the rest of their life,” he stated in response to inquiries about the investigation.

In September, when 26 year-old Katie Layne Quackenbush of Tennessee was charged with attempted murder for exiting her vehicle and shooting 54-year old Gerald Melton, her attorney and father, Jesse Quackenbush claimed she and her friend were being harassed and threatened with sexist remarks. “She didn’t try and kill this guy, she had no intention of killing him. She didn’t know that she hit him,” he said immediately after her arrest.

Why can’t we, as Black people defend our family and friends with matching zeal? Why must we send our young men and women into the belly of the beast to “learn a lesson” we couldn’t teach them at home? Why have we accepted the disproportionate incarceration of Black Americans as the norm? Some still view incarceration as a subconscious right of passage to adulthood for Black youth in America?

Take a few minutes and think about the number of people that you know who are currently incarcerated, have been incarcerated or on probation. Now, did you march in the streets for them? Did you sign a petition for them? Will the FBI investigate the judges who sentenced them? Hell, did you offer to put money on their books? Did you accept a collect call? If so, probably not as much as you could have. Not as much as you should have. But, I bet you were at the “welcome home” party.

Anyway, I’m really happy for y’all. I’ma let y’all finish marching for Meek, but remember, according to a study by The Marshall Project, as of April 2017, an estimated 61,250 Americans are incarcerated for technical parole violations. They deserve your support, too.

Thursday December 7, 2017

com. That has helped reduce customer traffic in the stores.

Macy's has cut jobs and closed stores as well as embraced lots of strategies to differentiate itself. That means offering more exclusive fashions, expanding an off-price brand, and adding more gadgets to its stores. In October, it launched a loyalty program that it hopes will bring more shoppers through its doors.

“Macy’s has had a great start to this holiday season with high customer volume across our business,” said John Harper, Macy's chief store officer, in a statement. “We are excited to be further expanding our seasonal workforce.”

Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette told The Associated Press on Black Friday morning that customer counts were higher and business was better in the North and Northeast even with fewer promotions from a year ago. Last year, Macy's had a lot of unsold merchandise from the third quarter that needed to be liquidated.

And cold weather helped fuel sales of items like coat and

boots. He predicted that Macy's would sell more than a million cold weather items on Thanksgiving and Black Friday combined.

However, Macy’s did suffer a glitch processing some gift and credit cards later on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It resolved the problems at the end of the day, but shoppers took to social media to complain about long lines or difficulties paying online.

Earlier in the fall Macy’s announced it would hire more temps for distribution centers and warehouses, but that overall holiday hiring would decline nearly 4 percent from last year.

Macy’s Inc. operates more than 700 stores under its namesake brand and Bloomingdale's as well as more than 100 specialty stores.

Shares of the company, which has corporate offices in New York and Cincinnati, were up 48 cents to $24.28 in morning trading.

NOV. 6, 2017: Brinkley sentences Mill to two to four years in prison for violating probation. She cites a failed drug test, failure to comply with an order restricting his travel and two other unrelated arrests _ one in St. Louis for a fight in an airport where charges against him were later dropped and the other for reckless driving in New York City where he took a dismissal deal. “You basically thumbed your nose at me,” she says. The prosecutor and his probation officer recommended he not be imprisoned.

Mill admits to the violations but says jailing him would likely end his musical career. “I may have made a mistake but I never had the intention of disrespecting you,” he said.

He’s currently in a Pennsylvania prison.

LEGAL BATTLE, PR CAMPAIGN TO FREE HIM Mill's lawyers file appeals to have him freed on bail, and ask judge to recuse herself. They allege Brinkley has made the case personal and has assumed an “essentially prosecutorial” role.

They say she suggested Mill record a version of the Boyz II Men song “On Bended Knee” and mention the judge in it. After Mill declined, the judge replied: “Suit yourself,” his lawyers say. This conversation occurred in the judge’s chambers and a transcript of the meeting is unavailable. Brinkley can't comment, a person at her office says.

Hundreds, including former Philadelphia 76er Julius Erving and rapper Rick Ross, protested in front of the courthouse. “Stand With Meek Mill” signs sprang up around on billboards and buses. The Rev. Al Sharpton visited him in prison; he says a broken criminal justice system is responsible for Mill’s incarceration.

An appeals court to denied to release him but instructs the sentencing judge to act “without further delay” on Mill’s nearly 2-week-old request to be freed.

Joe Tacopina, one of Mill’s lawyers, calls his incarceration a “travesty of justice.”

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Entertainment Core DJs Group Hosts Annual Summit in Phoenix

Thursday December 7, 2017

By Arizona Informant Staffers Arizona Informant/NNPA Member More than 700 of the nation’s most influential DJs, artists, publicists, models and program directors came together for The Core DJs 28th annual retreat in Phoenix, Ariz. The summit was full of networking, compelling discussions about the industry, showcase performances and club appearances.

“I love it here in Phoenix, we just gotta get people to realize that Phoenix is a viable market,” said Tony Neal, the CEO of The Core DJs, one of the largest coalitions of DJs in the world.

The Core is known for developing partnerships with influential companies in the Southwest. So, it was no surprise that the Arizona Informant, KNRJ 101.1 The Beat’s “Beatlocker Show” and Krankz Audio played major roles in supporting and promoting the conference.

“The Core DJ retreat was a tremendous success, an important win for the state of Arizona and the Southwest, in general. KNRJ 101.1 The Beat’s ‘Beatlocker Show’ couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it,” said Pokafase, a Phoenix radio personality. “The wealth of knowledge and experience brought to the table by such esteemed industry professionals is truly invaluable to any artist, producer, manager, or DJ looking to create a lane for themselves in the music industry.”

Pokafase continued: “Judging by the engagement, interaction, and overall reception of The Core DJs 28th annual retreat in Phoenix, this won’t be the last Arizona sees of the Core.”

According to industry insiders, one of the biggest challenges for up-and-coming artists is getting airplay on FM radio. Neal has developed a movement that acts as a one-stop shop at these annual retreats in different cities that gives artists access to established DJs, producers and program directors.

During the retreat, there were six DJs inducted into The Core DJs family: the world famous DJ Marvel; DJ Plaz; DJ Webby and DJ Charlie of Phoenix, Ariz.; DJ Law of Wyoming; and DJ Cadence of Wichita, Ks. One of the most important events during the retreat was the radio panel, which consisted of program directors and on-air personalities. There was a wealth of knowledge and information shared across the board from individuals in different markets throughout the nation.

One of the key points that was mentioned during the panel discussions was the need to build meaningful relationships with industry professionals, which includes the DJs, program directors and radio personalities.

According to one of the panelists, Brandon Hickman, who is the program director for 97.3 WMNX and 98.5 WBAI, many “artists have developed a preconceived notion [about the industry] that has them caught up in the ‘fame’ instead of putting in the important steps that consist of their sound, fan base and, of course, relationships that would make them timeless artists.”

Neal recommended that artists focus on only one or two songs instead of submitting 20 tracks to DJs and industry professionals. He also voiced the importance of having key branding in all products.

Long-time Core DJs member DJ Detroit noticed that some of the artists that were in attendance were taking heed to the knowledge presented by the veterans in the industry.

“One artist in particular approached me and told me that Neal validated everything that I have been saying from the beginning and personally thanked me for mentoring him over the years,” said DJ Detroit.

Veterans like Neal didn’t have the pleasure of growing up on the

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

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(From left-right) Cloves Campbell Jr., the publisher of the Arizona Informant, Jeff Weiland, the CEO of Krankz Audio, and Tony Neal, the CEO Of The Core DJs, at the Core DJs 28th annual retreat in Phoenix, Arizona. (Shawn Canon/Arizona Informant)

Internet when pursuing his craft as a DJ; he had to solely rely on relationships that he built through networking and traveling the world.

“You get more out of people when you build meaningful relationships that are not just based off of what they can do for you,”

said Dorian Washington, a Core DJ member and consultant.

DJ John Blaze of Ikon Radio expressed his appreciation for the Core for bringing the retreat to Arizona.

“I had the opportunity to connect with so many established DJs and other industry professionals that helped me expand my

knowledge in an industry that is changing by the second,” said Blaze.

The Arizona Informant is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Learn more about becoming a member at www.nnpa.org.

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer When UCLA takes on Kansas State 7-5 (5-4 Big 12) in the Cactus Bowl December 26 there will be a familiar face opposite the Bruins.

Former Bakersfield (Independence high) stand-out D J. Reed has earned spot on the K-State roster and has made a name for himself in the Big-12 .

An undisclosed injury has sidelined him for the final two games of the season and its unknown if he will play in the Cactus Bowl.

The 5-9 -190 pound Reed got off to a good start this season helping lead the Wildcats to a 5-5 record.

Reed has been known to study film for hours upon hours. He studies his old game films like most accomplished DB’s he studies himself and opponents.

“We get the real film, the same exact thing NFL Coaches get,” Reed told the Kansas City Star. “ Two hours everyday. Instead of watching TV, I go to the facility and watch film. That’s my TV time.”

The film watching has paid off as this season he was sixth on the team in tackles with 43 with 27 of them solo. He also had 4 interceptions in10 games..

In 2016 he came to K-State from Cerritos College. He was suppose to add depth to the defense instead his athleticism and work ethic were hard to overlook . He started 12 games defended sixteen passes and intercepted three of them. He added 75 tackles.

The Big 12 coaches named him defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Reed and teammate junior Bryan Pringle have made their mark on special teams as he is number one in the conference averaging 17 yards per punt return. When teams kick-off to Reed he averages 35.3 yard per return, enough to also make top of the list in the conference.

“Its funny because me and Bryan will be back there like man who mare they going to kick to? “Its cool to know you have someone back there who can dynamite back there with you.

Pringle is a star on offense having 28 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Reed played at Independence under head coach Sean McKeown.

He earned all-league honors for two-straight years when he had six interceptions and five forced fumbles, while he totaling 1,150 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense. He became the first person in school history to earn team MVP honors in both football and basketball.

His work ethic helped get him a head start at K-state. I came in knowing everything about the play book before I even practiced.

Learn the playbook is the most important thing you could do.

Workouts and stuff you can always work hard and do all that, but you have to learn the playbook to get on the field. Your going to move much faster that way.”

DJ Reed Could Face Bruins

‘Coco’ Tops Box Office 2nd

Straight Week w/ $26.1M

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) _ In a sleepy post-Thanksgiving weekend at the box office, Pixar's “Coco” remained the top film for the second straight week while a number of Oscar contenders packed theaters in specialty release. ``Coco'' again easily led all films with $26.1 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday. The acclaimed animated tale based on the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has dominated new releases both domestically and abroad. It has already racked up a global gross of $280 million, including record-breaking totals in Mexico and an impressive $75.6 million in China.

With no major wide releases, Warner Bros.’ “Justice League”also held in second place with $16.6 million in its third weekend. With a domestic total of $197.3 million in three weeks, the DC Comics superhero team-up release isn't going to catch Marvel's “Thor: Ragnarok.” The better-received “Thor” sequel has proved far mightier, with nearly $300 million in five weeks of release.

The family film “Wonder,” about a fifth-grade boy (Jacob Tremblay) with facial abnormalities, likewise stayed in third with $12.5 million. The sleeper hit of the season, also starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, has taken in $88 million in three weeks for Lionsgate.

Among new releases, most successful was James Franco's “The Disaster Artist.” The comedy opened with $1.2 million on 19 screens, good for a per-screen average of $64,254. The film, directed by and starring Franco, is about the making of the infamously bad cult movie “The Room.”

With most studios staying clear ahead of the impending release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (which some forecasts peg for a $200-million debut), much of the weekend's action was with awards-season releases. They helped drive the weekend to the biggest post-Thanksgiving weekend in five years, according to comScore.

Greta Gerwig's “Lady Bird,” which spent the week collecting honors from the New York Film Critics Circle, the Gotham Awards and the National Board of Review, added 403 theaters, for a total of 1,194. The A24 release, starring Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, earned $4.5 million, bringing its total to $17.1 million.

Fox Searchlight's “The Shape of Water,'' an acclaimed monster-movie fantasy from director Guillermo del Toro, opened in two New York theaters with $167,000. (The $83,400 per-screen

average ranks as among the best of the year.) Searchlight's “Thee Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri,'' also expanded to 1,630 screens and grossed $4.5 million. The Frances McDormand-led film has grossed $13.7 million.

The coming-of-age tale “Call Me By Your Name,” which topped the Gotham Awards on Monday, remained in very limited release _ four theaters _ and pulled in an excellent per-screen average of $67,000. The Sony Pictures Classics last weekend debuted with the highest screen-average of the year. The film's young star, Timothee Chalamet, has emerged as one the leading best-actor contenders.

Also of note: Woody Allen's latest, “Wonder Wheel,” opened with $140,555 in five theaters; Focus Feature's Winston Churchill biopic “Darkest Hour” took in $106,000 in four theaters; and the 20th anniversary release of ``Titanic'' grossed $415,000 in 87 theaters.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Coco,'' $26.1 million ($69 million international).

2. “Justice League,'' $16.6 million ($35.7 million international).

3. “Wonder,” $12.5 million ($7.8 million international).

4. “Thor: Ragnarok,” $9.7 million ($6.5 million international).

5. “Daddy's Home 2,” $7.5 million ($15.6 million international).

6. “Murder on the Orient Express,” $6.7 million ($23.1 million international).

7. “Lady Bird,” $4.5 million.

8. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” $4.5 million.

9. “The Star,” $4 million.

10. “A Bad Moms Christmas,” $3.5 million ($3.7 million international).

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore: 1. “Coco,” $69 million.

2. “Justice League,” $35.7 million.

3. “Murder on the Orient Express,” $23.1 million.

4. “Daddy's Home,” $15.6 million.

5. “Fireworks, Should We See it From the Side or the Bottom,” $10.7 million.

6. “Wonder,” $7.8 million.

7. “Thor: Ragnarok,” $6.5 million.

8. “Paddington 2,” $6.2 million.

9. “The Swindlers,” $6.1 million.

10. “Furious,” $4.2 million.

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Local Trojans Beat Stanford for PAC-12 Crown

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday December 7, 2017

Hand Grenade Found in Donation to California Goodwill Store PLACENTIA, Calif. (AP) _ Authorities say someone left a hand grenade inside a box of donations that was dropped off by a woman at a Goodwill store in Southern California.

The Los Angeles Times reports an unidentified woman dropped off the box Wednesday at the store in the city of Placentia near Los Angeles.

The Placentia Police Department says store workers discovered the grenade as they sifted through donations.

Officers evacuated neighboring businesses and a bomb squad was sent to safely retrieve the grenade.

The nonprofit Goodwill Industries International Inc. has more than 3,200 retail thrift stores.

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Repair & protect your credit Mossi Johnson (21) of UCLA (Crenshaw High) and Chris Hawkins of USC (4) share a moment as they both are headed to Bowl Games. UCLA to Cactus Bowl Dec 26 in Phoenix and USC to Cotton Bowl in Dallas Dec 29. (Earl Heath Photo) Trojans Beat Stanford for PAC-12 Crown

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer The USC football team won its first Pac 12 title since 2008 by defeating Stanford 31-28. Sam Darnold completed 17 of 24 passes for 325 and 2 touchdowns.

The steady Ronald Jones II had 140 yards on 30 carries to and two touchdowns led the ground game, that help lead a Trojan offense that rolled up 501 yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Michael Pittman had seven catches for 146 yards. “Donald (Sam) made it easy for me, I am blessed to have him on my team.” The 146 receiving yards are a Pac12 Championship game record.

Stanford was no softy as the Cardinal ha 353 tough yards

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with 135 yards coming from Bryce Love on 22 carries. Love played the game with a sore ankle had a 55 yard run..

Stanford QB KJ Costello of Santa Margarita Catholic completed 10 of 22 for 192 yards and 2 TD passes.

On the defensive side for USC senior DB Chris Hawkins led the team with a career high 13 tackles. Cameron Smith had 5 and john Houston chipped in with4.

The crowd of 48,032 appeared to be spilt down the middle between Trojan fans and Stanford. The win helped pun a ticket to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for a meeting against Ohio State.

Stanford 9-4(7-2PAC12) win take on TCU in the Alamo Bowl.

ADD USC: The night before the game Trojan Senior Captain Chris Hawkins learned his mother lost her four year battle with cancer. ”It broke my heart to know how much his grandmother meant to him,” Said USC Head Coach Clay Helton. He woke up with tear in his eyes and I just told him to honor his family. Hejust played his best game as a Trojan on the brightest stage.That’s what captains do .That’s what Trojans do. They fight on. That’s a performance I will never forget”